The Guyana Press Association (GPA) yesterday reminded media houses of their responsibility to practice ethical and responsible journalism as well as uphold the law, following an egregious breach by the Guyana Times in its last Saturday edition.
A press release issued by the GPA quoted Section 62 (1) of the Sexual Offences Act: “The publication in any document, or the broadcasting, or transmission in any way, of any information that could identify the complainant or witness to an offence under this Act is prohibited.”
It said Section 62 (3) also states, “Every person who publishes in any document or broadcasts, or transmits in any way, any information that could identify the complainant or a witness contrary to subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of two million dollars.”
The GPA pointed to the Code of Conduct issued by the UK’s Independent Press Standards Organisation which states that the press must not, even if legally free to do so, identify children under 16 who are victims or witnesses in cases involving sex offences. Further, in any press report of a case involving a sexual offence against a child, the child must not be identified.
Noting that other media houses had been guilty of similar breaches in the past, the GPA reminded that the freedom to report comes with responsibility to rigorously adhere to voluntary standards and ethical practices while also upholding the fundamental standards of accuracy, fairness and balance.
It also reminded editors and media owners of the important role they need to play in on-the-job training and education of their employees.
In this regard, the release said, the GPA looks forward to the full participation of the state and independent media in upcoming training programmes for journalists.
